Romans 6:11-13

Romans 6:11-13

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

When we were baptized, we were included in the death that Christ died on the cross. Seen in Romans 6:3-4, “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life”. When we were baptized, we journeyed into a new life where sin no longer had control on our lives. Sin no longer has the control over the words we speak, the actions we take, and even the thoughts we create. Through the waters of baptism, our old sinful being was crucified with Christ so that we may no longer be ruled by the sin (Romans 6:6) that entered the world a man’s poor decision to taste a forbidden apple. We have a new beginning, a new life reconciled with God, bound for heaven, and welcomed as a member of God’s family. Therefore we have the privilege, obligation, and opportunity to no longer let sin dictate our direction in life. We can and should refuse to offer our words, actions, and thoughts as tools for the devil to pave a path of destruction in our lives and the lives of others. We are no longer under the burden of sin and we are no longer bound for a place of eternal suffering. The last part of verse 13 above hits the nail on the head…every single part of our being should be offered up to God as a tool for righteousness. Everything…no exceptions. We won’t be perfect and we won’t get it right all of the time…but we should certainly try. After all, through Christ we were rescued from total destruction, complete despair, and eternal hopelessness…and instead we were given overwhelming hope, complete peace, and perfect rest. May we genuinely seek to serve the Lord today and each new day to come…until the Lord calls us home to receive our totally undeserved reward. To God be the glory!